WHICH CAMERA

Tomwlkr · Sep 2, 2023

Years ago I staeted collecting 35 mm cameras, ended up with over 50 cameras loadfed with film! Gettinf into film again and I find myself with an F2, FM2n, F3 HP, F3, Nikkormat FT2, and a Nikkormat EL. Don't want to repeat past mistakes now that film is $10 a roll, which camera to be my main squeeze

mtnbkr · Sep 3, 2023

Tomwlkr said:
Years ago I staeted collecting 35 mm cameras, ended up with over 50 cameras loadfed with film! Gettinf into film again and I find myself with an F2, FM2n, F3 HP, F3, Nikkormat FT2, and a Nikkormat EL. Don't want to repeat past mistakes now that film is $10 a roll, which camera to be my main squeeze

Pick the one that you enjoy using the most and enables you to take the best shots with minimal fuss. Assuming the same or similar lens on each camera, you'll be able to get fine photos with everyone in that list. It comes down to how you like to work.

I have two Canon film SLRs with about 20 years of technical development between them. Even though the newer one is objectively better I find myself preferring to use the older one because it just "disappears" in my hands while I'm shooting.

Chris

BrianShaw · Sep 3, 2023

This is "problem" is just too easy. Think about all of htose past mistakes... and do something different.

Dali · Sep 3, 2023

Forum pollution... You are the only one to get the answer.

jeffreyg · Sep 3, 2023

The main camera is between one's ears. The rest is just necessary to replicate what was seen. Although, I use mainly medium and large format one of my most "successful" photographs was made very many years ago with a Minolta SRT101 with a $40 Panagor 200mm lens and Tri-x through a thick glass wall of a hotel room overlooking what was then Dominion Square in Montreal while my wife was getting ready for us to go out. I don't remember what floor our room was on. As was said, use the one that suits you the most.

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Alex Benjamin · Sep 3, 2023

50 cameras loaded with film, that's over 350$ of unused film you've got there. The only answer is shoot all of them.

Pioneer · Sep 3, 2023

Alex Benjamin said:
50 cameras loaded with film, that's over 350$ of unused film you've got there. The only answer is shoot all of them.

I agree. Grab them and let her rip. The ones you want to reload when you are done are the winners of the first round. This kind of sounds like the polar opposite of Mike Johnston's OCOLOY.

Don_ih · Sep 3, 2023

He had 50 cameras - he now has six -- all of which seem identical, to me.

Alex Benjamin · Sep 3, 2023

Don_ih said:
He had 50 cameras - he now has six -- all of which seem identical, to me.

Dang that grammar! It's the verb "started" that confused me...

4season · Sep 3, 2023

If I were in this situation, and I enjoyed using the cameras equally, then I might choose the Nikkormat EL, followed by the FT2, because they have the lowest market value.

Castrillo · Sep 3, 2023

The camera is chosen by the work to be done.

These cameras have similar functions and possibilities and choosing between one or the other may be a matter of taste or comfort: such as the viewfinder, weight, handling, etc.,... it would be a personal matter.

There is a difference of 20 to 30 years between one and the other, some are professional and others are not. But curiously the technological differences are few. After F3 is when in a few years the differences increase.

I hope you will excuse my bad english.

Les Sarile · Sep 3, 2023

If you're concern is squandering precious film then I would pick the camera you have that is fully functional or more recently serviced. Otherwise, in the order of latest release which would be the FM2n, F3 HP, F3, EL2 and FT2 last. If they are all equally functional and reliable then I don't see why you would have to pick just one.

Sirius Glass · Sep 3, 2023

Easy choice: the camera that feels the best in your hands with the features you want.

John Earley · Sep 3, 2023

Don't put the camera away without finishing the roll and you can use each one sequentially.

mshchem · Sep 3, 2023

Nikon is covered, start collecting Leica

Alex Benjamin · Sep 3, 2023

Kentmere PAN 400 is just $5.29 a roll at B&H, and PAN 100 is $5.45. Not very expensive to put one in each camera and try them all.

Unless you like to shoot color, of course.

Kino · Sep 3, 2023

Tomwlkr said:
Years ago I staeted collecting 35 mm cameras, ended up with over 50 cameras loadfed with film! Gettinf into film again and I find myself with an F2, FM2n, F3 HP, F3, Nikkormat FT2, and a Nikkormat EL. Don't want to repeat past mistakes now that film is $10 a roll, which camera to be my main squeeze

Only you can answer that question...

WHICH CAMERA

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